Car roof



Oct. 18, 1932. A. R. WILSON CAR ROOF Filed Feb. 17. 1950 JW/rea KPatented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES" PA ENT" OFFICE ALFRED R. WILSON,or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO HUTCHINS oAa ROOFING COMPANY, OFDETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CAR ROOF Application flledFebruary 17, 1930. Serial No. 429,126.

.-=. roofing sheets. In the present state of the art the roofing sheetsare laid upon'the car frame, being separated from each other by mullionstrips and being weatherproofed by transverse caps. These transversecaps embrace the mullions and upstanding flanges on the sheets withsufficient clearance to permit independent movement of the sheets duringthe flexing and weaving of the car. The caps also press downward uponraised bearings at the margins of the sheets to form a thoroughlyweatherproof joint and also to hold the sheets from verticaldisplacement. It is,

however, necessary to hold down the capsand' it has been the practiceheretofore to accomplish this by bolts depending from the caps andsecured to apertured brackets which are mounted on the side plate of thecar frame or to the facia thereof. Thus in assembling the roof after thesheets are [laid between the mullions on the roof frame, the transversecaps are placed in position, being secured by the bolts to the aperturedbrackets either prior or subsequent to the securing of the latter to thecar frame.

A serious defect in the construction as above given is that theapertured brackets are not accurately located with respect to thetransverse caps and car frame so that the caps are not properlypositioned. This necessitates work on the field for correcting the errorwhich greatly increases the cost of erection. Furthermore, where as insome constructions, the bolts are secured to the apertured bracketsinside of the car body, the operator is not in a position to observewhether he is properly positioning the caps with reference to the sheetsor tightly clamping them down upon the sheets.

To avoid this objection I have devised a 5 construction in which theholding down means for the transverse caps is entirely external to thecar body and is so located as to avoid any danger of misplacement.Preferably I accomplish this by passing the holding down bolts throughvertical apertures in the facia thereby not only securely drawing downthe caps on the sheets but also accomplishing this at the eaves wherethe workman can observe what he is doing. This construction is shown inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a section through the side plate, facia of the car frame andthrough one of the transverse" caps in the central plane thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is an end elevation, and

Figure 4 is a' cross section through the transverse cap on line 4'4 ofFigure 2.

As illustrated, A is the side plate of the car frame; B the mullionstrip; C the sheathing or outer side wall of the car, and D the and towhich the facia E is secured. These parts may all be'of usualconstruction with the exception that I preferably form the facia ofsomething more than usual thickness and may diminish the vertical heightthereof. The roofing sheets F are laid upon the car frame between'the'mullions B and with their upstanding flanges F parallel to butspaced from said mullions and with inward 1y extending horizontalflanges F resting on the mullions. The sheets may have the usualdownturned eaves flangesG which as shown have the return bends H forengaging flashings I secured to the facia. The transverse" caps Jembrace the mullions B and'upstanding flanges F and are provided withthe usuallatrally extending flanges J which rest upon raised bearingportions F of the sheets clamping them down to the car frame and forminga weatherproof joint.

For securing the caps J in position and fordrawingthem down upon thesheets, said caps are provided in the portion above the facia- E with ahorizontal bearing J to which is secured preferably by riveting, ashoulder bolt This bolt depends from the bearing J and passes throu'ghavertical bore in the 'facia E'which is so located as to hold the cap Jcentralized with respect to. the mullion'B. The lower 'end of the boltengages a clamping'nut L which after suit able adjustment is secured bya lock Washer M. This construction permits the work- .man assembling theroof to position the cap bolts K prior to its installation on the car'and may then be secured by nailing orin any other suitable manner.

' A further advantage of my improved construction is that by dispensingwith the apertured bracket which is usually employed for engaging thedependingbolt of the transverse cap I may have the upper face of theside plate A free from obstruction and thereby provide a widebearing'for supporting the eaves end of the mullionsB. j

What I claim as my invention is;

1. In a car roof of the flexible type, the combination with a roof frameand a plurality of roofing sheets laid thereon having downturned flangesoverlapping and spaced from the eaves, of a transverse cap orweatherproofing between adjacent sheets having downturned flangesoutside the flanges of said sheets and means external of the car bodybut inside said downturned flanges for drawing down said transverse capupon said sheets whereby said caps and sheets are held down with freedomfor relative lateral movement.

2. In a car roof of the flexible type the combination with a roof frameand a. plurality of roofing sheets laid thereon having downturnedflanges overlapping and spaced from the eaves, of a transverse cap forweatherproofing between said sheets having downturned flanges outsidethe flanges of said sheets, a bolt depending from said cap external tothe car body but inside said downturned flanges and an apertured bearingsecured to the side of the car for co-operating with said bolt to form aholding down means i for the cap whereby said caps and sheets are helddown with freedom for relative lateral movement.

3. In a car roof the combination with a.

sheets, a bolt depending from said transverse cap external to the carbut inside said downturned flanges, and a facia apertured to receivesaid bolt and co-operating therewith to forma holding down means forsaid cap whereby said caps and sheets are held down with freedom forrelative lateral movement.

4. In a car roof, the combination with a skeleton roof frame, of amullion extending transversely of said frame, roofing sheets laid uponsaid frame upon opposite sides of said mullion, said sheets havingupturned side flanges and lateral extensions for resting upon saidmullion and also having downturned flanges overlapping and spaced fromthe eaves, a transverse capfor embracing said mullion and upstandingflanges on said sheets and having downturned flanges outside the flangesof'said sheets, a bolt secured to said transverse cap .in a portionthereof external to the car body and depending vertically therefrom, afacia apertured to receive said bolt and a clamping nut engaging saidbolt below said facia forming a drawing down means for said cap wherebysaid caps and sheets are held down withfreedom for relative lateralmovement.

5. In a car roof the combination with a roof frame and a series ofroofing sheets laid thereon, of a facia vertically apertured inposit-ions intermediate adjacent sheets, transverse caps forweatherproofing between adjacent sheets, each cap having a portionextending downward outside said facia and a horizontal portion abovesaid facia, a bolt secured to said horizontal portion and dependingtherefrom, said bolt passing through the aperture in the facia, a nutengaging the lower end of said bolt beneath said facia forming a drawingdown means for the cap upon the sheets and means for locking said nutfrom disengagement whereby said caps and sheets are held down withfreedom for relative lateral movement.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

ALFRED R. WILSON.

